Surprising Events While Watching the Hokage

Smoke curled through the air, a faint scent of tobacco lingering in the Hokage's office.

Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen set down the documents in his hand, took a deep drag from his pipe, then slowly exhaled. The smoke formed a hazy shape before him, much like his current mood—filled with anxiety and unease.

"Those two brats..." he muttered to himself, the figures of the White-Eye Brothers flashing through his mind. Those two energetic troublemakers always brought him all sorts of headaches.

"Hokage-sama," an Anbu ninja appeared silently behind him, "Aburame Shimbi-sama has sent word. The match is nearing its end, and he plans to observe Mitrasshi Red Bean from close range."

The Third Hokage narrowed his eyes slightly. Through his Crystal Ball, he could see the situation on the competition field.

Aburame Shimbi stood beside Red Bean, his expression serious, as if carefully observing something.

"Shimbi..." the Third Hokage murmured.

The Third Hokage took another deep drag from his pipe. The smoke swirled, blurring the wrinkles on his face but failing to conceal the deep light in his eyes.

"Shimbi..." his low voice carried a hint of approval, "always so meticulous and cautious. Truly a pillar of my Konoha." He recalled Shimbi's performance on the battlefield—calm and composed, always able to see through an enemy's weakness, achieving the greatest victory at the smallest cost.

He tapped his pipe twice against his fingertips, producing a crisp sound that seemed to strike at the Third Hokage's heart.

"That Orochimaru kid..." he thought again of Red Bean's teacher, the once-brilliant genius ninja who had grown increasingly unpredictable.

Nawa's death had hit him too hard. From then on, Orochimaru had become a different person. "That Red Bean child is gifted, but..." The Third Hokage shook his head. He reached out and picked up the Crystal Ball from the desk; its cool touch sharpened his senses.

"Let me see just how far these children have grown..." he said softly, his clouded eyes fixed intently on the Crystal Ball, as if trying to pierce through its secrets.

Suddenly, his gaze stopped on one figure, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "This kid..."

The Third Hokage picked up the Crystal Ball. Its cool touch cleared his somewhat muddled thoughts.

He slowly infused it with Chakra. The once-dim Crystal Ball suddenly lit up, and the scene of the competition field appeared clearly before him.

He swept his gaze across first. Those young figures ran and leaped across the field, drenched in sweat, their immature faces filled with seriousness and longing.

When his eyes finally landed on Haotian, a smile involuntarily tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"This kid..." the Third Hokage murmured, a glint of approval flashing in his clouded eyes.

Haotian wasn't particularly conspicuous among the crowd, even seeming somewhat ordinary. But the Third Hokage could sense an unusual aura about him—a pure and unyielding will, like the flames of Konoha, burning endlessly.

He could even vaguely feel that this kid possessed some ancient power that even he couldn't understand, which both intrigued and excited him.

"There's light in his eyes, just like the First and Second Hokage..." the Third Hokage said silently to himself. He could feel the firm conviction hidden in Haotian's gaze—another manifestation of the Will of Fire, a strength that refused to yield to any difficulty.

He had seen this light countless times in the ninjas who had sacrificed themselves to protect Konoha. Now, it shone again in Haotian, bringing him comfort, as if he were seeing Konoha's future.

Yet, alongside his comfort, a trace of worry rose in the Third Hokage's heart.

He knew that Haotian's practical combat skills were not outstanding. In the Ninja Academy's combat classes, his performance was only average, far from those naturally gifted ninjas.

He feared Haotian would suffer in brutal battles, that he would lose confidence because of his own weakness.

Just as the Third Hokage's thoughts were swirling, a sudden change occurred on the field.

"You... you actually poisoned your blood!" Mitrasshi Red Bean shrieked, her voice filled with terror and fury. She clutched her throat, her face instantly turning pale. Beads of sweat as large as beans oozed from her forehead, and her body began to tremble slightly.

She pointed at Haotian, her eyes full of disbelief and fear.

Her lips had taken on an abnormal purple-black hue—a clear sign of poisoning.

"What's going on?" The referee at the sidelines was stunned, his gaze shifting between Red Bean and Haotian, completely at a loss.

The once-noisy competition field fell silent instantly. Everyone was shocked by the sudden turn of events. They stared in disbelief at Red Bean, then at the calm-faced Haotian. How had Red Bean, so lively just moments ago, suddenly been poisoned?

Haotian remained standing still, his eyes narrowing slightly.